When Good News Disturbs

You’ve heard some of the good news/bad news stories. wife: i have a good news and a bad new. Husband: i am very busy. Just give me good news. wife: The airbags worked properly in our new BMW.

Often whether news is good or bad depends on your point of view. News can be good for one person and bad news for another.

Matthew 2:1–3 NIV84

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

How many kings do we have in this passage?

We’ve seen that for the shepherds the announcement of the angels that the Messiah had been born was good news. The same announcement was not good news for Herod.

Herod

Appointed governor by Rome in 47 bc; in 40 bc he had received the title of king; and he was to reign until 4 bc. He had wielded power for a long time. He was called Herod the Great

Herod was not the rightful king from the line of David. In fact he was not even a descendant of Jacob which caused most of the Jews to hate him and never truly to accept him as king

He became paranoid on his later years. If he suspected anyone as a rival to his power, that person was promptly eliminated. He murdered his wife Mariamne and her mother Alexandra. His eldest son, Antipater, and two other sons, Alexander and Aristobulus, were all assassinated by him. Augustus, the Roman emperor, had said, bitterly, that it was safer to be Herod’s pig than Herod’s son.

Jerusalem

We can understand Herod being disturbed, but it would seem that the people would be happy to hear that the Messiah had been born

Worried about Herod’s reaction

Religious leaders have aligned themselves with Herod – upset the status quo

Jesus

Every parent knows that the birth of baby will disrupt things – 2 AM feedings, new expenses,

When Jesus was born He caused a disturbance

Wasn’t born where the king was expected

Challenged the position of Herod

During His ministry He caused disturbances

Didn’t meet expectation

Challenged the authority of the religious leaders

Think of Jesus overturning the tables of the money-changers

Us

Will bring disturbances when He comes into our lives

Challenges our traditions and assumptions

Calls us to let go of self

Leads us in unexpected directions

It’s been said that Jesus came to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.

Disruptions may come to get our attention, focus us back on God

Disruptions may come to open us to a better way, get us out of a rut

Disruptions may come to keep us from making a mistake

Isaiah 55:8 NIV84

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.